P R E S S  R E L E A S E

 

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Women’s Premier Soccer League has unveiled its Regional Players of the Week from Matchweek Nine, which featured games from regular-season finales and conference championships. This the final award for the regional honor for the 2025 season.

 

WEST REGION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Lauren Hunter, F, California Storm

Hunter helped California Storm close out its regular-season campaign with two big wins on the week. The Santa Clara sophomore saw 160 minutes of action and recorded two goals in the shutout victories at home.

“Lauren is a constant threat on the attack for the California Storm,” Jamie Levoy, California Storm executive director, said. “She is a pacy player with a great shot which makes her very hard to defend and is also great at dropping defensively and winning the ball back. Lauren is a player that has been with us for a few years. Her dedication to being the best player she can be shows in her play.”

In her freshman season (2024) with the Broncos, Hunter appeared in 12 games for 291 minutes and tallied two goals and an assist from 15(6) shots on goal. Hunter will begin her sophomore season for Santa Clara this Fall.

 
 

Abby Forsgren, D, San Francisco Nighthawks
 

High School senior Abby Forngren proved her competitiveness in the Nighthawks’ final weekend of regular season by contributing to a strong defensive effort for the full regulation. Forsgren has verbally committed to play collegiately with the University of Memphis in 2026.
 

“Abby, as a rising senior next year, has developed herself into a starter and 90-minute player for her ability to inject an attack into the offense from her defensive position while keeping the opponents on her side of the field scoreless,” Jill Lounsbury, San Francisco Nighthawks general manager, said. “She is a heads-up style of player evaluating the game before her and picking out the best player to deliver her pass to. She scored and assisted several times this season and this week continued being a presence on the field.”

 

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SOUTH REGION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK


Ella Grace Dillard, F, Chattanooga FC

 

Ella Grace Dillard secured Chattanooga FC’s playoff berth with her first goal of the season coming in the final 10 minutes of the Southeast Conference Championship. Dillard’s goal broke the 0-0 deadlock and gave CFC the conference title, punching its ticket to the South Region Playoffs.
 

“Ella Grace was a consistent presence in 1v1 situations throughout the game, repeatedly unbalancing defenders and breaking lines,” Maryn Beutler, Chattanooga FC associate head coach, said. “She capped off her performance with a beautiful header in the 80th minute, securing the conference championship win.”
 

In the 2024 collegiate season, Dillard was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team and played in all 19 (3) games for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Charleston, S.C. native finished fifth on the team in scoring for the Mocs and scored her first collegiate goal in extra time of the SoCon Tournament. 

 

Maddie Smith, GK, Chattanooga FC

Maddie Smith led a defensive front that kept an offensively-profound Nashville side scoreless to earn Chattanooga the Southeast Conference title and a spot in the South Region Playoffs. Smith made six big saves to keep the Rhythm off the board, who came into the match averaging 3.1 goals a game. The shutout with Chattanooga’s third of the season.

“Maddie’s professionalism and approach to the game are evident in every training session and interaction,”  Maryn Beutler, Chattanooga FC’s associate head coach, said. “She demonstrates a clear ambition to play at the professional level and is actively pursuing those opportunities, making her a strong role model for others to follow.”

Smith finished her college career with the Florida State Seminoles after transferring from the University of Maryland. Smith earned four shutouts with the Seminoles in 2024 and finished as ACC Tournament Champions. In her time with Maryland, Smith started 13 of the 23 games played and recorded 82 saves with a 1.32 GA/AVG.

 

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EAST REGION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK


Elizabeth Estrada, F, PA Classics


Elizabeth Estrada scored a hattrick in the eight-goal thriller of the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship that went into extra time. Estrada first sparked the Classics’ comeback after being down 3-0 through the first 70 minutes of play with a goal in the 72’. This was just enough to shift the momentum to the Classics as two more goals came to level it at regulation and send the game to extra time.
 

With two extra time goals to complete her hattrick, Estrada secured the Classics’ conference title with the 5-3 win and kept postseason hopes alive. The come-from-behind victory propelled Estrada and the Classics to the East Region Playoffs.

Estrada made 16 starts in 18 games for LaSalle University in the 2024 collegiate season and finished second in assists (5)

 

 

*No Nominations from the Central Region or East Region (Defensive POTW)